Do you have ringing in your ears?

If you are bothered by ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, you're not alone. It is estimated that 17 percent of the world population and more than 7 million Americans complain of some kind of noise from their ears. This noise usually is in the form of ringing, buzzing and clicking. Some patients will state that it sounds like katydids or tree frogs.

Tinnitus usually is more noticeable at night when things get quieter or when the person is under great stress. The most common cause of this noise is damage to the hearing mechanism. This damage usually occurs in the high frequencies so the person is unaware the loss exists. Other causes of tinnitus can be allergies, exposure to high levels of noise, certain medications such as aspirin, high blood pressure, etc.

When the noise is due to damage in the organ of hearing or the cochlea, there generally is no medical treatment that will eliminate the tinnitus. One of the only ways that we have to help the individual that suffers from this noise is to try and cover up the noise with a more acceptable sound. This is done either through the use of tinnitus maskers or by mild amplification to the effected ear.

The use of hearing aids or amplifiers to cover up the tinnitus has been very successful and usually is the recommended treatment.

If you have tinnitus or noise in your ears, I highly recommend an evaluation by a physician who specializes in problems with the ear such as an otologist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist). I also recommend a thorough audiometric or hearing evaluation by a certified audiologist.

In some cases, tinnitus can be eliminated through proper medical management or through the use of hearing aids or masking devices. An audiologist will be able to assist you in finding the proper management procedure for your particular problem.

-- Lou McGrail has been in audiology since 1970 and has worked alongside ear, nose and throat specialists since 1974. He works closely with Dr. Jack A. Coleman and is now accepting new patients at Siloam Springs ENT & Cosmetic Surgery located at 1101-3 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs.